Argentina national team head coach Lionel Scaloni mentioned the possibility of superstar Messi being called back to the national team after being sidelined for over a month due to injury.
The Argentine forward missed the 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against Chile (September 5) and Colombia (September 10) due to an ankle injury sustained during the 2024 Copa America—a tournament that Argentina won.
The 37-year-old Messi had to leave the field in the second half of the final match against Colombia, a game where La Albiceleste claimed victory in extra time. When asked about recalling Messi for the international matches in October, Scaloni said he would make a late decision, giving Messi the best chance to recover before announcing the squad.
Scaloni shared with *All About Argentina*, “Regarding Messi, we always hope he will return to play soon. When it’s time to announce the squad, we will talk to Messi. There are still about two weeks left, so we will wait until then to decide. After that, the Argentine team will assess whether Messi is fit to participate. We always want Messi in the lineup, but everything depends on how well his injury heals.”
Scaloni confirmed that Messi would be called up to the national team as soon as he recovers from his ankle injury.
The Tango Dancers have had a strong start this month in World Cup qualifying despite the absence of captain Messi. They secured a 3-0 victory over Chile at home in Estadio Mas Monumental in Buenos Aires, with goals from Alexis Mac Allister, Julian Alvarez, and Paulo Dybala.
It’s worth noting that Dybala, who was added to the Argentine squad, had the honor of wearing Messi’s No. 10 jersey in the match against Chile. The AS Roma forward performed well, scoring a goal in stoppage time after coming off the bench. Reflecting on the iconic No. 10 shirt, Dybala admitted that it belongs to Messi and that he was only wearing it until the Inter Miami forward returns.
Dybala said he did his best to wear the legendary jersey with pride: “I know it’s not my shirt. Everyone associates the jersey with Leo Messi, but I tried to represent it in the best way possible, giving my all, and I think I did well.”
After handing Messi’s shirt to Dybala, coach Scaloni also confirmed that the forward deserved the honor: “Paulo Dybala deserves this. He has the experience and talent to wear this number, and people shouldn’t put too much pressure on it. It’s an honor. When Messi is available, the No. 10 belongs to him again.”
After the victory over Chile, Dybala shared a celebratory post on Instagram, showcasing his goal in the No. 10 jersey. Dybala is expected to play again when Argentina faces Colombia in the next World Cup qualifier on the morning of September 10.
